The Word This Week
Luke 12:1…
Given the fresh understanding of the spiritual fact there are only two kingdoms present in this world, and having been given the chance to make a choice about which kingdom we desire to live life on this earth in – how are we then to live our lives with a heavenly perspective?
Living life with a heavenly perspective may seem difficult, especially in the midst of those who are not living that way. It is very easy to lose focus on heaven in the world we live in, because the world constantly imposes pressures upon our lives in order to maintain our standard of living, to fit in with the surrounding culture, and to be accepted by men.
The interesting thing is we conform ourselves easily to the demands of culture while secretly admiring non-conformists, and the freedom expressed by a non-conforming lifestyle…
There is no greater expression of a non-conforming lifestyle than to place your focus on God’s kingdom and keep it there.
In the first case - and most importantly - why should we fear what people around us think of us compared with seeking to please God in everything we think and say and do? Even in the extreme case - which becomes more a possibility all the time – why should we fear what man can do with us even to the point of death?
Jesus tells us Who we should fear – understanding for us fear is a powerful motivator. We commonly teach fear as the essence of the reverence of God, and that is a very great and mature understanding to arrive at, but fear, as in being afraid of God is also a relevant point which Jesus drives home here.
Those who can kill you physically have done all they can do to you. Physical death, however, is the beginning of your eternal existence, and God is the One Who determines which kingdom you will spend eternity in. This is an understanding which helps us to maintain our heavenly focus no matter what.
Pastor Bill
Given the fresh understanding of the spiritual fact there are only two kingdoms present in this world, and having been given the chance to make a choice about which kingdom we desire to live life on this earth in – how are we then to live our lives with a heavenly perspective?
Living life with a heavenly perspective may seem difficult, especially in the midst of those who are not living that way. It is very easy to lose focus on heaven in the world we live in, because the world constantly imposes pressures upon our lives in order to maintain our standard of living, to fit in with the surrounding culture, and to be accepted by men.
The interesting thing is we conform ourselves easily to the demands of culture while secretly admiring non-conformists, and the freedom expressed by a non-conforming lifestyle…
There is no greater expression of a non-conforming lifestyle than to place your focus on God’s kingdom and keep it there.
In the first case - and most importantly - why should we fear what people around us think of us compared with seeking to please God in everything we think and say and do? Even in the extreme case - which becomes more a possibility all the time – why should we fear what man can do with us even to the point of death?
Jesus tells us Who we should fear – understanding for us fear is a powerful motivator. We commonly teach fear as the essence of the reverence of God, and that is a very great and mature understanding to arrive at, but fear, as in being afraid of God is also a relevant point which Jesus drives home here.
Those who can kill you physically have done all they can do to you. Physical death, however, is the beginning of your eternal existence, and God is the One Who determines which kingdom you will spend eternity in. This is an understanding which helps us to maintain our heavenly focus no matter what.
Pastor Bill